inexpensive amp for jams

[Duffy]

Amp

I have to agree with Eric. I can't remember using the aux in while playing guitar. I usually play along to my stereo or outstanding computer speaker system.

On amps that have the aux in, one of them I upgraded the speaker to a Celestion twelve inch Seventy/80 and it now sounds great when I play my portable CD player thru it. I use this Crate amp to set up near my drum set when I play them along to music and it works great, sounds really good. Almost as good as a stereo.

I would not let the aux in absense stop me from getting a superior amp.

What is your need for the aux in?

Also, remember that the volume you get out of an aux in is dependent upon the volume controls on the "source" audio unit, not the volume knob on the amp. The amp's volume control does not control or increase the volume of the unit plugged into the aux in, the amp's volume control only increases the volume of your guitar, not the aux unit. Therefore it is easy to drownd out the aux in sound when you turn your amp up playing guitar. After you turn the volume on your source unit up beyond a certain level the quality of the sound starts to degrade a lot.

The aux in can be fun and "may" be useful to drive a portable CD or MP3 player as a speaker unit. I would test out its effectiveness and listen to the quality of the sound at the level you plan on listening to it.

 

[bigG]

barber76,

Your #1 choice of the Peavey Vypyr is certainly a popular one here locally. My local mom'n'pop Peavey dealer can't keep those amps in stock! Whether the tubed or SS (Transtube).

I'm usually in their store at least once a week (they're also the local Martin dealer), and the way those Vypyrs disappear in a week's time is phenomenol! He's gone from ordering 6-8 at a time to 12-15 at a time! And STILL runs low on 'em before the next bunch arrives!

If that's any indication - I hope it helps.

G

 

[poodlesrule]

barber76,
... and the way those Vypyrs disappear in a week's time is phenomenal!

Could it be that, taking a motorcycle market analogy, the hot 600 c.c. Suzukis selling in high volume to young, often inexperienced riders, and the more refined (and spendier) touring bikes sit a lot longer?

 

[hubberjub]

Could it be that, taking a motorcycle market analogy, the hot 600 c.c. Suzukis selling in high volume to young, often inexperienced riders, and the more refined (and spendier) touring bikes sit a lot longer?

The same could be said for almost anything. I've never played a Peavey Vyper but I've heard good things about them. No, they probably aren't going to replace a nice tube amp, but the OP is just looking for a small amp for jamming or playing a small gig. There's nothing wrong with having an inexpensive amp on hand. I can't speak for the motorcycles though. I hear Suzuki makes a good bike.

 

[barber76]

I have to agree with Eric. I can't remember using the aux in while playing guitar.
...
What is your need for the aux in?

Don't laugh... But if I jam (and I mean playing particular song exactly as I learned from tabs) in the company of newbs like myself, I'd have much more trust in my MP3 backing track.

Upd: adding Peavey Bandit to consideration. Clean channel demos sound amazing, and most owners state it's built rock solid. Though, I don't understand, why Vypyr 75, which is also claimed to have this "transtube", and has ton more features over Bandit, costs the same...

 

[barber76]

there is also some Peavey Windsor Studio, 20W all-tube (as I was told here, it is ~50-60W SS?) combo $399 new. Just noticed it.

Upd: Nevermind. Reviews are so-so.

 

[Katastrophe]

I've played the Windsor 20, and I gotta say that I wasn't impressed. It was an extremely dark sounding amp, even when playing an American SSS Strat and an G&L American ASAT.

It was unfortunate, really, as I generally like Peavey amps.

 

[oldguy]

Been searching for something close to your criteria and price, within reason.
You should look at these when you have a chance, I think. :greenguitar:

(I know the BH's around $50 over budget, but it's tube.)

http://www.music123.com/Dean-Dimebag-D100-120W-Guitar-Amp-Head-584512-i1503660.Music123

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BLABH100H

 

[barber76]

Pulled the trigger on Vypyr tube 60 (online via MF). Will test it extensively upon arrival, and if software glitches are significant, will return & take Bandit (unfortunately, I didn't take Sanpera, while some of the glitches I've read about were related to Sanpera<->Amp midi communication).
Most of complaints at Vypyr threads are dated 2008/2009. Firmware versions 1.58/1.66 are considered stable, so I'm optimistic.

I'll post how my Vypyr experience will go.

 

[barber76]

Got my Vypyr tube 60.
Bad thing: can't update firmware, so $25 for USB-midi cable are spent idle. Good thing: so far haven't had any problems with factory firmware v.1.55, so update isn't critical. Long-term reliability is a big question, so knocking on wood and praying for factory warranty.
Played ~2.5 hours via speaker, and ~2 hours via headphones.
The amp is LOUD. I'm not risking playing it via speaker even in apartment's garage. Also, this thing is ******* computer - you need to read a manual at least once to start tweaking presets. Factory presets are, as expected, overloaded with all kinds of quirky effects and useless.
Some guy in his mid 40s heard me testing it, and told that it sounds great. He said he has Valvetronix.
I definitely will try putting overdrive pedal in front. Not too good idea for modeling amp, but I'm curious how it'll handle it.

 

[oldguy]

That's great! Congrats on your new amph, glad to hear you're liking it.:applause

 

[bigG]

Congrats on your new amp, man! :applause

If local sales of the Vypyr series are any indication, well, they haven't had one returned yet since they first became available (off the top of my head, I'd guess they've sold maybe 100 +/- incl the 15w thru the 100w). And you're right about studying the manual - imperative w that amp!

 

[barber76]

Thanks for congrats, guys!
Today my teacher (blues pro) spent about an hour with my Tube 60, and almost all he told me, confirms what I've read about Vypyr from different sources.
1) Fender amps (esp. Twin) suck and sound synthetic in both clean & gain channels.
2) he liked Classic (Peavey Classic 50) model a lot, saying it's pretty damn close to real thing. His favorite lead blues setting was clean channel classic + tube screamer + just a touch of reverb.
3) he abolutely loved 6505 & Rec, though hard rock stuff isn't his cup of tea. Said that my amp must be a great purchase for heavy-oriented players.
4) also he tried a few built-in rack effects and haven't had anything specific to criticize - they just work as they should.